Today on KSR: The Perfect Start to 2021

On3 imageby:Sam Gormley•01/03/21•

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(Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

We can all agree that 2020 sucked. But Saturday brought a big chance to start the new year off on the right foot. The Kentucky football team opened up the day with a win over a ranked team in a bowl game and the Kentucky basketball team, behind heroics from Dontaie Allen, snapped their six-game losing streak.

To say yesterday was a big news day would be an understatement, so bear with us as we dive through a hectic start to 2021.

Kentucky football closes season on high note

(Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

A season filled with heartbreak ended on a happy note yesterday as the Kentucky football team used a strong rushing attack and stout defensive play to defeat NC State 23-21 in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.

While the “Big Dogffense” didn’t quite have the fireworks some had hoped for, they did just enough to take down the Wolfpack. Playing in his final game as a Wildcat, AJ Rose, who was named the game’s MVP, led the way in rushing with 12 carries for 148 yards. Joining him out of the backfield was Chris Rodriguez, who had two touchdowns for 84 yards rushing, and Kavosiey Smoke who added 45 yards of his own.

It was the defense that stole the show for the Cats. The unit forced three interceptions and limited a strong rushing attack to only 50 yards on the ground.

Quite possibly the unsung hero of the day was kicker Matt Ruffolo. The senior was a perfect 3/3 on FG attempts and 2/2 on extra points in what proved to be the difference.

We’ve got you covered with postgame coverage.

Kentucky’s Emotional 2020 Football Season gets a Much-Needed Happy Ending

Jamin Davis: “That was for 22, that was for Schlarman”

WATCH: Highlights from Kentucky’s 23-21 Gator Bowl Victory over NC State

Defense Carries Kentucky to 23-21 Victory over NC State in Sloppy TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

AJ Rose named MVP of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl

Multiple seniors announce they will come back

After the game wrapped up, multiple seniors began to make announcements that they would be using the NCAA’s extra eligibility rule and returning to Lexington next season. Joining leading receiver Josh Ali was tight end Justin Rigg, safety Davonte Robinson, and special teamer Zach Johnson.

One player who could have potentially made the move to the NFL following his junior season was linebacker DeAndre Square who also announced his intentions to return next year.

This is only the first group of players making their decisions and more could still come as we approach the next few weeks.

Max Duffy, Brandin Echols give memorable moments

It is rare that a punter can take a fan base by storm in a good way. During his time in Lexington, the Australian born Max Duffy has done just that. The 2019 Ray Guy award winner was on his way to potentially winning the award for a second time before missing multiple games earlier this year derailed his chances.

Yesterday, he was able to give the Big Blue Nation one final positive memory with one of the more improbable juke moves you will see by a punter.

The athleticism!

While an impressive feat, it was Brandin Echols who had social media abuzz following a late hit. After hitting the turf, the corner “played dead” before being “resuscitated” by a fellow teammate. Watch it again below:

Echols later left the game with an injury following an unintentional hit from Vito Tisdale.

Kenneth Horsey named ‘Comeback Player of the Year’

UK Athletics

Before the game, it was offensive lineman Kenneth Horsey who was named as the Mayo Clinic’s ‘Comeback Player of the Year.’

In 2018, Horsey was rushed to the hospital with pain in his side where doctors ultimately found a growth on one of his heart valves. After redshirting the year to recover, he has become an integral part of the Big Blue Wall.

For more on Horsey, and the announcement, see the link below:

https://kentuckysportsradio.com/football-2/kenneth-horsey-named-mayo-clinic-comeback-player-of-the-year/

Dontaie Allen leads Cats to 2OT victory

For most of this season, “where is Dontaie Allen” has been a question asked by some of the Kentucky fanbase. Knowing that the redshirt freshman is a shooter, it seemed only right that he would play on a team that, well, struggled shooting, but yet it hadn’t happened.

Entering yesterday’s game, Allen had only played 20 minutes on the year with Calipari saying that his time was coming.

Well, Calipari was right about something, Allen’s time came and boy did he take advantage of it.

The Pendleton County native lit up the Bulldogs on 7-11 shooting from beyond the arc while dropping 23 points in 32 minutes of game action to help lead the Cats to a 78-73 double-overtime victory.

Allen’s game overshadowed a good bounceback performance from Olivier Sarr who finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Lance Ware who added 12 rebounds of his own.

John Calipari’s ejection proved once again to turn the tide at a critical point in not only just the game but also the season as a whole. The team seemed to flip a switch once he left the game.

Calipari on his ejection, Allen

While he didn’t officially admit that he meant to get ejected, Calipari did have a lot to say about what was going through his mind when he walked off the floor. He told reporters “When I walked off, I said, this is either going to be a good thing or a bad thing… And then when we started making our run — and there was a lot of time now. So I knew it wasn’t four minutes, it was nine minutes. So, we watched it and I’m in there with Kevin Sargent and I’m pacing and I’m going and it’s close and I’m saying this could turn into the same thing [as the Arkansas game last season].”

For more on Cal and the ejection, click here.

On Allen, the UK head coach added “I said before the game to the staff, ‘I hope he goes big, because we need to win!’ He changed us offensively because he spread the court,” Calipari said. “… At the beginning of this year, there have been signs of this. Again, you’re playing behind some guys that you’re proving now, ‘They should be playing behind me.’ He changes our team.”

UK women to face Mississippi State this afternoon

Photo by Hannah Phillips | UK Athletics

The UK women will make their own trip to Starkville today as they will look to open up SEC play 2-0 against #12 Mississippi State. The game will be televised on ESPN2 beginning at 1:00 pm.

If you haven’t taken the time to watch any of this team play, I would highly recommend doing so. They are a ton of fun to watch.

That’s all of the news you need to know to start your Sunday. Enjoy the final day of the regular season for the NFL and Go Cats!

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